Dental scaler system and method

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a dental scaler system and method of use. The dental scaler system has a dental scaler apparatus and a scaler handpiece enclosing a coil. The dental scaler apparatus has a housing and a scaler power control circuit. The coil is connected through an electrical conductor to the scaler power control circuit. The housing has a holder side, and a first and a second base side each having a plurality of first base feet extending therefrom. The first base side is connected to the second base side at an angle greater than 30 degrees. The second base side is connected to the holder side. The holder side has a scaler handpiece holder integrally formed therein. In the method the system is supported on the first feet, and then on the second feet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a dental scaler system inaccordance with the invention with the housing in its vertical position.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a dental scaler system inaccordance with the invention with the housing in its vertical position.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the housing in its verticalposition as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a frontal perspective view of the housing in its horizontalposition.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the housing.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the circuit of the dental scaler systemof FIGS. 1 THROUGH 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is now described with more particular reference to FIGS. 1through 6. With more particular reference to FIG. 1 is seen dentalscaler system 10 having dental scaler apparatus 12 and scaler handpiece14 having coil 16. Scaler handpiece 14 has tip 15 and magnetostrictivestack 17. Dental scaler apparatus 12 has housing 18 and scaler powercontrol circuit 20. Dental scaler system 10 is supported by horizontalsupport surface 13. The coil 16 is connected through an electricalconductor 22 to scaler power control circuit 20. Control adjuster 21,which may be a variable resistor, is connected through control side 23to scaler power control circuit 20. Knob 19 is connected to controladjuster 21.

Housing 18 has control side 23, convex side 24, holder side 25, firstbase side 26 having a having a plurality of first base feet 30, 32, 34and 36 extending therefrom. Housing 18 has second base side 40 having aplurality of second base feet 42, 44, 46 and 48 extending therefrom.Preferably first base feet 30, 32, 34 and 36 and second base feet 42,44, 46 and 48 are made of resilient material, such as a polymericelastomer. Housing 18 has rear side 49. First base side 26 connected tosecond base side 40 at an angle greater than 30 degrees, and mostpreferably about 90 degrees. Second base side 40 is connected to holderside 25.

Holder side 25 has a scaler handpiece holder integrally formed therein.First base feet 30, 32, 34 and 36 are adapted to support at least asubstantial portion of housing 18. Also, second base feet 42, 44, 46 and48 are adapted to support at least a substantial portion of housing 18.

First base side 26 is integrally connected to second base side 40, andsecond base side 40 is integrally connected to holder side 25. Holderside 25 is integrally connected to convex side 24. Control side 23 isintegrally connected to both first base side 26 and second base side 40.Also, control side 23 is integrally connected to both holder side 25 andconvex side 24.

Holder side 25 has a holder 50 with grips 52, 54 and 56. Grips 52, 54and 56 are ribs and adapted to retain scaler handpiece 14. When housing18 is in its vertical position, its horizontal position or in motionbetween these positions, grips 52, 54 and 56 are adapted to retainscaler handpiece 14 in holder 50. Holder 50 is also adapted to allow theuser to readily pull scaler handpiece 14 from holder 50, and to readilypush scaler handpiece 14 into holder 50.

Scaler handpiece 14 is connected to handpiece cable 62. Water conduit 60and handpiece cable 62 extend into housing 18 through rear side 49.

In use system 10 is supported alternatively on first base feet 30, 32,34 and 36 or on second base feet 42, 44, 46 and 48. While housing 18 isless laterally stable, when supported by first base feet 30, 32, 34 and36, it requires less horizontal support surface area, than when it issupported by second base feet 42, 44, 46 and 48. Typical horizontalsupport surface areas used to support system 10 are shelf top, table topand counter top surface areas

It should be understood that while the present invention has beendescribed in considerable detail with respect to certain specificembodiments thereof, it should not be considered limited to suchembodiments but may be used in other ways without departure from thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. A dental scaler system comprising: a dental scaler apparatus and a scaler handpiece having a coil, said dental scaler apparatus having a housing and a scaler power control circuit, said coil being connected through an electrical conductor to said scaler power control circuit, said housing having a first base side having a having a plurality of first base feet extending therefrom, second base side having a plurality of second base feet extending therefrom, a holder side, said first base side being connected to said second base side at an angle greater than 30 degrees, said second base side being connected to said holder side, said holder side having a scaler handpiece holder integrally formed therein, said first base feet being adapted to support at least a substantial portion of said housing, said second base feet being adapted to support at least a substantial portion of said housing.
 2. The dental scaler system of claim 1 wherein said first base side is integrally connected to said second base side, and said second base side is integrally connected to said holder side.
 3. The dental scaler system of claim 2 wherein said housing further comprises a control side, said control side is integrally connected to first base side, said control side is integrally connected to said second base side, and said control side is integrally connected to said holder side.
 4. The dental scaler system of claim 2 wherein said holder side has a holder with at least one grip, and said grip is adapted to retain said scaler handpiece,
 5. The dental scaler system of claim 4 wherein said grip is a rib.
 6. A dental scaler system comprising: a dental scaler apparatus and a scaler handpiece having a coil, said dental scaler apparatus having a housing and a scaler power control circuit, said coil being connected through an electrical conductor to said scaler power control circuit, said housing having a holder side, a first base side having a plurality of first base feet extending therefrom, second base side having a plurality of second base feet extending therefrom, said first base side being connected to said second base side at an angle greater than 30 degrees, said second base side being connected to said holder side, said holder side having a holder with at least one grip, said grip being adapted to retain said scaler handpiece, said first base feet being adapted to support at least a substantial portion of said housing, said second base feet being adapted to support at least a substantial portion of said housing.
 7. The dental scaler system of claim 6 wherein said first base side is integrally connected to said second base side, and said second base side is integrally connected to said holder side.
 8. The dental scaler system of claim 7 wherein said housing further comprises a control side, said control side is integrally connected to first base side, said control side is integrally connected to said second base side, and said control side is integrally connected to said holder side.
 9. The dental scaler system of claim 6 wherein said holder has at least two grips, each of said grips extends outwardly from said holder and said holder is adapted to be sufficiently distorted for removal of said scaler handpiece from said holder by the user.
 10. The dental scaler system of claim 6 wherein said holder is integrally formed in said holder side.
 11. A method of using a dental scaler system comprising: providing dental scaler system having a dental scaler apparatus and a scaler handpiece enclosing a coil, said dental scaler apparatus having a housing and a scaler power control circuit, said coil being connected through an electrical conductor to said scaler power control circuit, said housing having a first base side having a plurality of first base feet extending therefrom, second base side having a plurality of second base feet extending therefrom, a holder side, said first base side being connected to said second base side at an angle greater than 30 degrees, said second base side being connected to said holder side, said holder side having a scaler handpiece holder integrally formed therein, supporting said system on said first feet, and supporting said system on said second feet.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said handpiece is supported by said holder.
 13. The dental scaler system of claim 11 wherein said first base side is integrally connected to said second base side, and said second base side is integrally connected to said holder side.
 14. The dental scaler system of claim 13 wherein said housing further comprises a control side, said control side is integrally connected to first base side, said control side is integrally connected to said second base side, and said control side is integrally connected to said holder side.
 15. The dental scaler system of claim 1 1 wherein said holder side has a holder with at least one grip, and said grip is adapted to retain said scaler handpiece.
 16. A method of using a dental scaler system comprising: providing dental scaler system having a dental scaler apparatus and a scaler handpiece enclosing a coil, said dental scaler apparatus having a housing and a scaler power control circuit, said coil being connected through an electrical conductor to said scaler power control circuit, said housing having a first base side having a plurality of first base feet extending therefrom, second base side having a plurality of second base feet extending therefrom, a holder side, said first base side being connected to said second base side at an angle greater than 30 degrees, said second base side being connected to said holder side, said holder side having a holder with at least one grip, said grip being adapted to retain said scaler handpiece, supporting said system on said first feet, and supporting said system on said second feet.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said handpiece is supported by said holder.
 18. The dental scaler system of claim 16 wherein said first base side is integrally connected to said second base side, and said second base side is integrally connected to said holder side.
 19. The dental scaler system of claim 18 wherein said housing further comprises a control side, said control side is integrally connected to first base side, said control side is integrally connected to said second base side, and said control side is integrally connected to said holder side.
 20. The dental scaler system of claim 18 wherein said holder has at least two grips, each of said grips extends outwardly from said holder and said holder is adapted to be distorted during removal of said scaler handpiece from said holder. 